Karnataka: 'Historic', Says Abhishek Manu Singhvi A​fter Supreme Court Order On Floor Test

New Delhi: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Friday said that the Supreme Court had passed a historic order in calling for a floor test in Karnataka on Saturday. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has ordered that a floor test be conducted in Karnataka Assembly at 4pm on Saturday. The SC was hearing a petition filed by the Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka against the decision of Governor Vajubhai Vala to invite BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa to form the government.

“It is a historic interim order. Yedyurappa has also conceded through his counsel that he will not be taking any political decisions. More importantly, the court has agreed for a final and future hearing of whether the governor can call a party with less numbers to form the government,” said an ecstatic Singhvi outside the court, adding that the confidence motion is subject to many safeguards.

The pro tem speaker will oversee the floor test in Karnataka Assembly. Mukul Rohatgi, representing BS Yeddyurappa, had sought reasonable time, something that the apex court refused. “Yedyurappa’s counsel Mukul Rohatgi kept asking for time but the SC refused and passed an order based on truth on the ground. We are grateful to the SC for that and also for hearing our plea at midnight earlier,” he said.

On Thursday, during a historic pre-dawn hearing, the SC made it clear that it was not interfering with the Governor's decision to invite the BJP to form government. The BJP which won 104 seats has emerged as the single largest party. During the high-voltage hearing, which lasted from 2.11am to 5.28am, the top court made it clear that the swearing-in and government formation would be subject to the final outcome of the case. The court directed the Centre to place before it two communications sent by Yeddyurappa to the Governor in which he had staked claim to form government, saying their perusal was necessary to decide the case.

It issued notices to Karnataka government and Yeddyurappa seeking their replies on the plea filed by Congress-JD (S) combine and posted the matter for Friday.